AUICK Newsletter No.48 City Report and Action Plan

AUICK Second 2006 Workshop

City Report and Action Plan - Danang

Mr. An Van Nguyen
Vice Director,
Danang Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Department,
Danang People's Committee,
Vietnam

CONTENTS

1. City Report

2. Action Plan

2.1. Identification of Critical Problems
2.2. Proposed Actions

2.3. Proposed Action - Other Related Activities
2.4. Monitoring
2.5. Activity Timeline

1. City Report

Danang is a rapidly growing Vietnamese seaport, roughly halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Growing at more than 10 percent per year, it now has a population of just over 780,000 people. Vietnam has recently come through the demographic transition with fertility falling rapidly. Its population under 15 has been declining and now is just one quarter of the population. The aged have been rising and now constitute about 6 percent of the population. They are expected to rise to over 11 percent by 2025. Still blessed with a large and growing working age population, the city is beginning to experience the ageing problem that presents challenges to the more economically advanced countries of Asia.

Recognizing the rising ageing population, Vietnam has promulgated new laws to support the elderly, including a salary adjustment and social insurance scheme. Most elderly are still active and are now recruited for work by hospitals and other social service organizations. The city’s Department for Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has responsibility to develop projects to care for the elderly. There are voluntary senior citizen groups and special centers to care for the elderly. Health insurance covers all people 85 and over, with income allowances of 100,000 and 200,000 VND per month for those over 90 and 95 respectively. Another plan provides VND 150,000 per month for the elderly poor. Although the family is expected to provide basic care for the elderly, there is a growing number of government and Non Governmental Organizations providing recreation and care centers throughout the city.

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2. Action Plan

2.1. Identification of Critical Problems

Lack of a comprehensive care system:

- Health care: more sickness => health care insurance covered
- Material life care: healthy elderly still have a need to work => generating income Lack of budget: committed to the aged’s activities, income
- Spiritual life care: the aged are stressed

2.2. Proposed Actions

Establishment of the City Fund for Protection of the Aged (here after called Fund) with financial support from the City Government, NGOs and the Community.

Immediate Objectives of the Fund:

Provide soft loans to the individual aged.

Integrate with the Poverty Reduction Programme and collaborate with the Social Policy Bank and credit groups to provide soft loans to the aged for their small scale production & business

Provide monthly allowance to the care givers of the lonely and isolated aged in the community.

Provide financial support to the associations of the aged and volunteer groups

Fund mobilization:

City Government: annual allocation of 50 – 100,000,000 VND
 -NGOs, companies, enterprises...
 -Local community on the occasion of the International Elderly People’s Day (1 Oct) and National Elderly People’s Day (6 June)

Establishment of the Fund Management Committee
> Formulation of Fund Management Regulation
> Recruitment of personnel (part time, full time staff)
> Distribution of Fund

2.3. Proposed Action - Other Related Activities

Organize “Silver volunteer” group and groups of “Collaborators” to guide, provide counseling and monitor activities of the Govt. administration agencies on the Implementation of the Ordinance.

Organize groups of “Voluntary students” to provide health check-ups and counseling for the aged.

Organize art performance: music, folk song performance for the aged.

2.4. Monitoring

Regular meetings/ discussion

Reporting system

Auditing

Review

Focal point personnel on Population Issues
City Leaders:
- City Chairman: Mr. Tran Van Minh
- Vice Chairperson: Mme. Nong Thi Ngoc Minh

City DLISA:
- Mme. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hung: Director
- Mr. Nguyen Van An: Vice Director
- Mme. Tran Thi Hong Van, Head of the Social Protection Division
- Mme. Nguyen Thi Minh, Deputy Head of the Social Protection Division

Collaborating agencies:
- Mr. Nguyen Huu Cang Chairman, City CPFC
- Mr. Nguyen Van Kien Vice President, FFC responsible for the aged
- Mme. Doan Vo Kim Anh, Deputy Director, City DoH

2.5. Activity Timeline

Activities	Time Line	Responsible person
1. Formulate Plan of Action for the Aged for approval of the City Chairman	Nov/2006 – Feb/2007	City DLISA
2. Draft Regulation on Establishment and Management of the Fund and submit to the City Chairman for approval	Nov/2006 – Feb/2007	City DLISA & City Association of the Aged & City Association of the Aged
3. Collaborate with Thai Phien Club for the Retired People on organization of “Silver groups” and “collaborator groups”	Feb 2007	City DLISA & City Association of the Aged
4. Call for financial support from NGOs, enterprises, companies, set up some pilot projects for fund	From Feb 2007 onwards	City DLISA & City CPFC
5. Propose a meeting to discuss about the aged issues	May – June 2007	City PC and Representative from AUICK (if available)
6. Organize “Voluntary student group” to take care of the aged	Summer time (June- July)	City YU and Universities
7. Organize “Medical student” group to provide health check-ups for the aged	Regularly	City DoH, Medical University and Local Authorities
8. Regular meeting / discussion to draw on lessons learnt and experience and revise the activities if necessary	Every 6 months, starting from June 2006	City PC and relevant agencies

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